Scottish Wildlife Trust - Kilminning Coast

The cliffs at Kilminning are proper dramatic - raw red sandstone dropping straight down to the Firth of Forth, with seabirds wheeling overhead and the wind doing its level best to knock you sideways. This is a Scottish Wildlife Trust site just outside Anstruther, and it's one of those places where you turn up expecting a quick twenty-minute wander and end up rooted to the spot for hours.

What you're really here for is the birds. Guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes - they nest in the cliff face from spring through summer, and there's a decent chance of spotting them without binoculars if you're patient. The walking trails aren't demanding, just a bit windswept, and the access is free. Allow a couple of hours to do it properly, more if you're into wildlife photography or ornithology.

It's not a place to keep restless under-tens entertained for long - they'll do the walk and want lunch. But teenagers and adults who actually notice things will find it worthwhile. The coastal views reach across to Edinburgh on a clear day, and it's genuine wild rather than managed parkland.

If you're based at any of the caravan parks round Anstruther - Sauchope Links is closest - this slots in perfectly on a rainy afternoon or as a morning break between beach time and fish suppers. Stick to the marked paths when it's wet; the ground gets boggy fast and the cliff edge isn't forgiving.